Shmuel Legesse’s life reads like a modern Zionist journey—from the hills of Ethiopia via cosmopolitan New York to the heart of Jerusalem, guided by strong faith, perseverance and a unique vision of Jewish unity and Israel advocacy.

An Ethiopian-born Israeli educator, activist and diplomacy expert, Legesse believes Israel should be a world leader in what he calls “moral diplomacy”—a global approach rooted in ethics, empathy and education.

“Israel must not only defend itself,” he told JNS in an in-depth interview followed by a studio interview. “It must define itself.”

Legesse, who has represented the Knesset abroad and worked with Jewish and interfaith communities across Africa, the United States and Israel, believes that Israel’s greatest strength lies not only in military might but in

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